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Steakhouse [Forced] To Close, Ending Tradition For Wounded War Vets
D.C. Channel 9 WUSA ^ | 4/14/06 | Doug Buchanan

Posted on 04/14/2006 5:37:45 AM PDT by Coop

Edited on 04/14/2006 5:42:21 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

A two-year tradition for wounded war vets is about to go by the wayside. A downtown DC steak house that’s catered to injured troops every Friday night is about to close.

Fran O’Brien’s landlord [Hilton] is forcing out the steakhouse of the same name.

“We're not feeling very good about leaving and especially the Friday night dinner,” O’Brien said.

With the restaurant soon to close, so too will go a hang-out spot that troops have been able to call home while healing, if only for a few hours every week.

In a statement from Hilton hotels, a spokesperson writes: "this is a business decision whereby Hilton Hotels is exploring several options to utilize this space."

But the decision impacts more than just the business that's getting the boot.

A Hilton hotel spokesperson say they are -- on some level -- hoping to keep the Friday night alive without Fran O’Brien’s.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; US: Georgia; US: Maryland; US: New Hampshire; US: Virginia; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: bethesda; capitalhilton; franobriens; hilton; hiltonhotel; onthehomefront; outrage; steakhouse; supportourtroops; veterans; walterreed; wia; wounded
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To: Coop
We need someone with the talent to do so, to start a petition condemning this action.

Maybe some bumper stickers: "Hilton to Heelton".
81 posted on 04/14/2006 8:45:23 AM PDT by F.J. Mitchell (The only thing more violent than a dogfight, is a peaceful day among the Islamites.)
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To: GodBlessUSA

We read the same thing. From that statement you conclude that Hilton is anti-military?
Hilton may have any number of other businesses vying for that spot in the hotel. That could be why they haven't made a final decision.


82 posted on 04/14/2006 8:46:32 AM PDT by em2vn
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To: F.J. Mitchell

I'm not asking "someone." I'm asking you.


83 posted on 04/14/2006 8:46:53 AM PDT by Coop (Proud founding member of GCA - Gruntled Conservatives of America)
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To: Hoodlum91
Yes, I agree. They have no time to prepare, find another place for business. Hilton, should at the least, take that in consideration and give them an extended lease or something.

I also think it's odd Hilton had two statements. First, it was due to liability and now it's because they are exploring the possibility of using the space.

84 posted on 04/14/2006 8:49:19 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You! Prayers said for our Heroes!)
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To: em2vn
I conclude that Hilton is treating the military - specifically wounded servicemembers - like crap. They strung Fran O'Brien's along for months, gave them 2-3 weeks' notice, have NOT identified another use for the property, and offered a lame verbal excuse about "liability concerns" should a wounded person be further hurt there.

Why are you fighting so hard against our efforts? Do you work for Hilton? I hope you do, and I hope you'll recognize what an idiotic PR move this is.

85 posted on 04/14/2006 8:50:02 AM PDT by Coop (Proud founding member of GCA - Gruntled Conservatives of America)
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To: theDentist

Information on ADA can be found at the Department of Justice website.
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/


86 posted on 04/14/2006 8:54:32 AM PDT by lastchance (Hug your babies.)
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To: em2vn
Read my posts. I've already stated the facts and time frame Hilton gave them to leave. I don't know what motivated them to do this, but it's totally wrong.
87 posted on 04/14/2006 8:55:36 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, Past, Present and Future, God Bless You and Thank You! Prayers said for our Heroes!)
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To: Chgogal
the state where every illegal immigrant is taken care of but forget about our soldiers.

The state where the Freerepublic servers are located.

88 posted on 04/14/2006 8:57:00 AM PDT by w1andsodidwe (Jimmy Carter allowed radical Islam to get a foothold in Iran.)
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To: Coop

What a shame. The Hilton family ought to be ashamed of themselves.


89 posted on 04/14/2006 8:59:27 AM PDT by conservativebabe
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To: GodBlessUSA

You know - there is vacant restaurant space on 13th near Freedom Plaza. Used to have John Harvard's. Probably a lot more expensive, but I would love it if they moved there! (It's about 5 blocks from where I work.

Still, to give 2 weeks to relocate a business sucks.


90 posted on 04/14/2006 8:59:38 AM PDT by Hoodlum91 (Tour guide goddess)
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To: stm; MoJo2001; Kathy in Alaska; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it

Ping


91 posted on 04/14/2006 9:03:50 AM PDT by Coop (Proud founding member of GCA - Gruntled Conservatives of America)
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To: Coop; 2LT Radix jr; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 80 Square Miles; 359Henrie; acad1228; AirForceMom; ...

Thank you for posting this Coop.

Unbelievable!

Surely this is something we could do to let the Hilton folks know that Fran O'Brien's is more than just a steakhouse. It has provided a morale boost to our Wounded War Vets.

Canteen Ping!


92 posted on 04/14/2006 9:06:19 AM PDT by MoJo2001 (www.proudpatriots.org (Support Our Troops)...)
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To: em2vn

If that where so ,they would have told the owners of Fran O'Brien months in advance that the lease would not be renewed and not two weeks before the lease runs out.

Your reasoning is BS.

I work for a big cooperation ,that leases space to other businesses and they always notify the business six month to a year before the lease is up,that they plan on leasing the space to someone else.The reason this is done,is so that the owner of the business is able to find another location before having to vacate.


93 posted on 04/14/2006 9:07:05 AM PDT by Mrs.Nooseman (Proud supporter of our Troops and President GW!!!)
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To: MoJo2001; tgslTakoma; kristinn

You're welcome, Mojo, but I believe the D.C. Chapter had the original thread alerting me to this outrageous story.


94 posted on 04/14/2006 9:07:24 AM PDT by Coop (Proud founding member of GCA - Gruntled Conservatives of America)
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To: MoJo2001; radar101; concretebob; Justanobody
I stand corrected. It was Buzz via radar who to my knowledge first brought this to our attention. I'm grateful to both of them, and I'm hopeful that if enough of us raise a fuss we can stop this lousy decision.

Not only would reversal of this decision save a wonderful, therapeutic tradition for our wounded servicemembers, but our outcry itself would send a message of love and support to them and to Hal & Marty for standing up for them.

95 posted on 04/14/2006 9:11:41 AM PDT by Coop (Proud founding member of GCA - Gruntled Conservatives of America)
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To: Hoodlum91

Doesn't make any sense to me.


96 posted on 04/14/2006 9:12:04 AM PDT by RockinRight (Yes...she's an excellent tour guide!)
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To: All

Anyone told Kristen and the DC Freepers about this?


97 posted on 04/14/2006 9:14:28 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The Democrat Party. For those who value slogans over solutions.)
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To: MoJo2001
Morning MoJo.

I am all over this.

Been firing off mails all morning.

:)
98 posted on 04/14/2006 9:15:02 AM PDT by Mrs.Nooseman (Proud supporter of our Troops and President GW!!!)
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To: MNJohnnie

Yes


99 posted on 04/14/2006 9:15:12 AM PDT by Coop (Proud founding member of GCA - Gruntled Conservatives of America)
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To: Mrs.Nooseman

Thank you for your response. Phone calls are good, too, if practical.


100 posted on 04/14/2006 9:16:12 AM PDT by Coop (Proud founding member of GCA - Gruntled Conservatives of America)
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